The betting industry owes the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) 26 billion shillings in unpaid taxes.
This is according to the Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i who also issued orders to have foreigners, in the gaming industry, who came to Kenya in the pretense of carrying out other businesses deported.
The CS accused the Judiciary of frustrating KRA’s attempt to recover the money by constantly issuing court orders favoring betting investors.
Matiang’i said gaming companies that seek to renew their licenses will henceforth have to undergo security vetting.
The renewal of gaming licenses will also be determined by up to date payment of taxes owed to the revenue authority unlike previously when renewal was automatic according to the CS.
Matiang’i said that the Government would introduce a regulatory framework for the gaming industry to align it with the global best practices.
Money, according to the CS, will be monitored in and out of the Country within the industry.
According to Matiang’i the gaming industry in the Country is controlled by foreigners and revenue raised by betting firms is sent back /back to their Countries.
Matiang’i said uncontrolled gambling has reorganized the financial lives of poor Kenyans in very severe ways as it targets the poor and their hard earned wages.
“We have numerous reports of increased personal financial delinquency and family break-ups arising out of gaming and betting and generally social defiance,” the CS noted.
“All over the world, no society has developed through gaming, naked greed and an entrenched “get-rich-quick” culture,” Matiang’i said.